Deodorant holder for a diaper hamper



Oct. 10, 1967 s. c. MELE 3,346,140

DEODORANT HOLDER FOR A DIAPER HAMPER Filed Nov. 22, 1965 40 Z5 22 I 40 INVENTOR.

SIDNEY C. MELE' hwmmzz United States Patent Ofiice 3,346,14d Patented Oct. 10, 1967 3,346,140 DEODORANT HOLDER FOR A DIAPER HAMPER Sidney C. Mele, Mountainside, N.J., assignor to Associated Baby Services, Inc., Bound Brook, NJ. Filed Nov. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 509,027 2 Claims. (Cl. 22087) ABSTRACT OF THE DliSCLGSURE A top for a diaper hamper is provided with a deodorant holder. The deodorant holder comprises a perforated bottom wall and a vertically extending cylindrical side wall encircling the perforated bottom wall. The deodorant holder is integrally formed with the top cover. A cap is provided having a downwardly extending circular wall which is insertable into the deodorant holder in telescoping relationship with the cylindrical wall thereof. Latch members are formed and extend downwardly from the bottom of the wall of the cap member so that as the cap is inserted, the latch members will engage the cover in locking engagement to prevent removal by a child. Thus, the deodorant tablet is locked in position. An adult can open the cap for replacement. The cap also serves as the handle for the cover.

This invention relates to an improved diaper hamper and, more particularly, relates to an improved deodorant holder for the top of a diaper hamper.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cover and deodorant holder for a diaper hamper in which the cap of the deodorant holder can be inserted in a plurality of rotatably displaced positions. When so inserted, the cap is latched in the closed position preventing removal by infants and in the latched posit on is useful as a handle for said cover.

In accordance with this object, there is provided, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, a diaper hamper consisting of an open topped container and a cover therefor.

The top cover fits the open top of the container in enclosing relationship. The top cover is provided with a centrally depressed area Within which is located the deodorant holder. The deodorant holder consists of a perforated bottom wall integrally formed with the cover and a vertically upstanding cylindrically shaped Wall encircling the bottom wall. The container is adaped to receive a deodorant tablet. The perforation allows transfer of the vapor from the deodorant tablet into the interior of the diaper hamper. The deodorant holder is provided with a cap to enclose the deodorant tablet. The cap is provided with an integrally formed top wall and downwardly extending cylindrically shaped side wall dimensioned for insertion within the cylindrical wall of the holder in telescoping relationship. A flange is provided in the side wall of the cap so that, as the cap is inserted in the holder, the flange will engage the top of the container wall in sealing relationship. At least two downwardly extending latches are provided on the side walls of the cap and preferred integrally formed therewith. The latch members consist of resilient members extending downwardly from the edge of the side wall. Each resilient member terminates in an outwardly extending hook shaped member. The bottom wall of the deodorant holder is provided with a plurality of slots spaced evenly about the periphery thereof which receive the latch members. Thus, as the cap is inserted, the latch members will deflect due to their resiliency, permitting insertion of the cap into the container proper. The latch member is passed'through its respective slot and, after passage therethro-ugh, will spring outwardly to engage the top cover of the diaper hamper in latching relationship.

In this manner, the deodorant holder is provided with a latch top. The deodorant holder may, thus, be used as a handle for removing the cover from the container. Also, and more importantly, the cap of the deodorant holder cannot be removed by young children. Thus, the deodorant tablet, which is injurious if ingested, is safely held. Of course, the cap can be simply removed by an adult by depression of the resilient latch members, simultaneous with pulling of the cap member.

Having briefly described this invention, it will be de scribed in greater detail along with other objects and advantages in the following portions of the specification, which may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hamper incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of the hamper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the top of the hamper showing the holder with the cap removed in greater detail; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3.

In the figures, there is shown a diaper hamper consisting of a generally cylindrical open topped container 10. A cover 12 is provided to engage the open end of the container in sealing relationship.

The central area 14 of the cover is depressed, preferably in a smooth are as is shown, both for the purposes of appearance and strength. Centrally located within the depressed area is a deodorant holder generally designated as 16 bounded 'by the vertically extending cylindrically shaped wall 18. The wall 18 is preferably integrally formed with the cover as, for example, by injection molding of the cover. A cap 20 is removably inserted into the holder 16.

The bottom wall 22 of the container is provided with perforations 24 so as to permit the vapors from the deodorant tablet 26 to pass into the body of the hamper 10. The bottom wall is also provided with a plurality of rectangularly shaped slots 28 evenly spaced about the periphery thereof.

The cap consists of a top wall 30 and integrally formed downwardly extending side walls 32. A flange 34 is formed in the side Wall to engage the top of the walls 18 in sealing relationship. Latch members 36 are integrally formed with the side walls and consist of a downwardly extending resilient section 38 at the end of which is mounted a hook member 40.

As the cap member is inserted within the side Walls 18, the resiliency of section 38 of the hook members permits the hook members to deflect inwardly. The cap is then inserted within the Walls 18 in telescopic relationship until the flange 34 engages the top of walls 18. The two flange members 36 are inserted within corresponding slots 28 in the bottom wall. By providing the plurality of slots at radially separated positions, the latch members may easily be inserted by the user since a relatively small radial movement will properly align the latch members 36 with two of the slots 28. Once aligned, the cap is inserted to its full depth and the hook members 40 will clear the bottom of the walls 18 and be urged outwardly in latching relationship therewith. At this time, the cap is firmly aflixed in position. Thus, the deodorant holder and its attached cap may be used as a convenient and safe handle to remove the cover. In addition, however, children cannot easily and inadvertently remove the cap, gaining access to the deodorant tablet which is potentially hazardous if ingested. An adult, however, may easily remove the cap for replacement of the tablet by simple finger pressure on the latch members simultaneously with pulling of the cap.

The cover 12 is preferably formed as an integral unit as, for example, by injection molded polyethylene, thereby to provide an attractive, strong but very economical unit. The cap is similarly formed. By maintaining the side wall thickness of the order of about ;-in. to %-lI1., the resilient nature of polyethylene can be utilized with a simply molded part.

This invention may be variously modified and embodied Within the scope of the subjoiued claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a cover for a diaper hamper, a deodorant holder having a bottom wall, said bottom wall being integrally formed with said cover and having perforations extending through the top cover to permit vapor exchange therethrough, a vertically extending cylindrically shaped holder side Wall encircling said perforations, said bottom wall being provided with a plurality of slots cut through said cover adjacent the interior surface of said encircling holder side Wall and spaced closely adjacent each other at regular intervals along the interior of said vertically extending holder side wall, a cap, said cap being provided with a top wall and a downwardly extending cap side wall dimensioned to be insertable Within the vertically extending holder side wall in telescoping relationship therewith, at least two latch members extending downwardly from said cap side wall, each of said latch members having a resilient portion and a hook member formed at the end of said resilient portion, said latch members being dimensioned to be inserted within respective slots of said container bottom wall and to pass therethrough as said cap is inserted in telescoping relationship to said container so that the hook members at the end thereof engage said cover in latched relationship therewith.

2. A deodorant holder in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover is provided with a centrally depressed area and in which said deodorant holder is positioned at the center of said depressed area, whereby said cover and cap serves as a handle for said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,991 8/1953 Woock 220 6o 2,802,590 8/1957 Tupper 22087 3,071,800 1/1963 Patriquin 220- 3,149,743 8/1964 Scholtz 220-48 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A COVER FOR A DIAPER HAMPER, A DEODORANT HOLDER HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID COVER AND HAVING PERFORATINS EXTENDING THROUGH THE TOP COVER TO PERMIT VAPOR EXCHANGE THERETHROUGH, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED HOLDER SIDE WALL ENCIRCLING SAID PERFORATIONS, SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SLOTS OUT THROUGH SAID COVER ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID ENCIRCLING HOLDER SIDE WALL AND SPACED CLOSELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER AT REGULAR INTERVALS ALONG THE INTERIOR OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING HOLDER SIDE WALL, A CAP SAID CAP BEING PROVIDED WITH A TOP WALL AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CAP SIDE WALL DIMENSIONED TO BE INSERTABLE WITHIN THE VERTICALLY EXTENDING HOLDER SIDE WALL IN TELESCOPING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, AT LEAST TWO LATCH MEMBERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CAP SIDE WALL, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS HAVING A RESILIENT PORTION AND A HOOK MEMBER FORMED AT THE END OF SAID RESILIENT PORTION, SAID LATCH MEMBERS BEING DIMENSIONED TO BE INSERTED WITHIN RESPECTIVE SLOTS OF SAID CONTAINER BOTTOM WALL AND TO PASS THERETHROUGH AS SAID CAP IS INSERTED IN TELESCOPING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID CONTAINER SO THAT THE HOOK MEMBERS AT THE END THEREOF ENGAGE SAID COVER IN LATCHED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH. 